#MerlotMe In The Kitchen: A #WinePW Special

Many years ago I walked into a wine store and the clerk approached me with a question: “What’s your favorite wine?” Hmmm.

It’s an honest question, but anyone who has tasted as much wine as I have will never be able to provide an answer. Another version of the inquiry sounds like this, “What sort of wine varieties do you like best?”

Same hesitation, on my part. Even a single variety can present itself as endless. Perhaps none more so than merlot, which thrives in France, Italy, Chile, the United States and Australia. Simplified, merlot provides silky tannins and red or dark fruit — it’s complex and depended upon in blends but can fashion a staid single varietal wine. I’ve found that versatility on the table is a characteristic that is often overlooked.

To prove that merlot has the gumption to fill any need, here are 18 bottles — all from California — that present their own stand. Various price points, growing philosophies, flavor profiles, vineyard origins, winemaking techniques. Something for everyone, with a meal to match — that’s merlot.

Napa Valley fruit from Oak Knoll, Yountville and Calistoga age separately in the barrel then come together in this bottle, rich with a range of cherry expression. Pair with Grilled Beef with Sesame Dressing.

Bonterra, in Mendocino County, is one of the most compelling wineries to watch, in my opinion. Totally organic and biodynamic (this bottle is organic), award-winning, point-scoring, utterly well-made wine. An absolute value as one of the most affordable wines on the list, yet cared for as attentively as anything you’ll drink this year. Pair with Roasted Veggies with Red Wine Reduction.

As a fan of small-production, mountain wines, Lava Cap up in El Dorado has really caught my eye this year. El Dorado in total has really caught my eye this year. Pair with Pappardelle with Porcini and Pistachios.

I find Stags’ Leap wines to be endlessly delicious and this single-block, estate-grown wine is a lovely example of the precision at play in the vineyard and cellar. Pair with Marcella Hazan’s Bolognese Sauce.

Fetzer celebrates 50 years with a deep flashback on the memories and experience they’ve cultivated as Mendocino County wine pioneers. In the same winemaking family as aforementioned Bonterra, this is truly (truly) a value buy — ten bucks goes a superbly long way on this one. Pair with Braised Pork Chops with Dried Fruits and Cinnamon Couscous

Single variety wines often have a sprinkling of blending involved, with appellations generally allowing somewhere between 15%-25% of this to occur without degrading the labeling authenticity. This particular wine weaves in some luscious cabernet franc — 100% organic. Pair with Skirt Steak with Pinto Beans and Pasilla Chile Vinaigrette.

Wine Pairing Weekend

Our Wine Pairing Weekend group loves to find creative, new pairings of wines with food. Take a look at all these great ideas when they go live on Friday and Saturday this week as we celebrate #MerlotMe, the October rally around this particular variety. Think this group loves merlot or something?